Turning Curses Into Blessing

There is another story of the desert.
There is more than "leaving" and "journeying to."
There is a story of "on the way."
Today we tell the story of curses turned into blessings.
King Balak sent Balaam, the greatest magician in the world,
to curse the children of Israel so they would die.

Balaam went up to the mountain top.
He made the proper sacrifices
-- seven rams and bullocks on seven altars.
He stood above the Israelites, arms outstretched,
ready to pronounce the curse.
He opened his mouth to say the words of death,
the words of power.